Car-coupling and operating device therefor



No. 6I6,395. Patented Dec. 20, I898. S. BEDFORD.

CAR COUPLING AND OPERATING DEVICE THEREFOR.

(Application filed Mar. 12, 1898.)

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I l l I I I I I I' I: l 1 W- I I I I I i l H I I I I 1 I I I I I I I l II I I I I I I I I I I I l I N W/T/VESSES INVENTOH ,S'cfi, ,Bea lfordhATTORNEYS.

No. amass. Ptented Dec. 20,1898

3. BEDFORD.

GAR COUPLING AMI! OPERATING DEVICE THEREEOB.

(Application filed Mar. 12, 1898.) v (No Model.) 3 Shee'ti-SheetZ.

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' ATTORNIEYS.

No. 6l6,395. Patented Dec. 20, I898. s. BEIJFORD.

CAR COUPLING AND OPERA'HNG DEVICE THEREFOR.

(Application filed Mar. 12, 1898.)

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(No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

WITNESSES: I IN VENTOH fiflta 51:71 ,Beoforcl.

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m: -onms vzrzns c0. PHOIQ-LITHO, WASHINGTON, 03c.

UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SETH BEDFORD, OF CHARLESTON, MISSOURI.

CAR-COUPLING AND OPERATING DEVICE THEREFOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 616,395, dated December20, 1898.

Application filed March 12, 1898. Serial No. 673,590. (No model.)

T 0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SETH BEDFORD, residing at Charleston, in the countyof Mississippi and State of Missouri, have made certain new and usefulImprovements in Car-Couplings and Operating Devices Therefor, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact specificallOTl.

My invention is an improvement in carcouplings and in devices foroperating the same, and has for an object, among other improvements, tofurnish means for automatically setting the coupling-jaws into positionto receive each other as the cars come together, to furnish meanswhereby air-pressure may be utilized to uncouple, to furnish meanswhereby air-pressure may be utilized to control the passage of air tothe uncoupling devices under the control of the engineer so a train maybe uncoupled at any point, and to furnish couplings for such air-pipesarranged to be automatically united when pressed together by the meetingbumpers.

The invention consists in certain features of construction and novelcombinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed outin the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a diagrammatic bottom plan view of a carprovided with my improvement. Fig. 2 is a side view of the car-couplingdevices. Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 4 is a side View of thecarcoupling devices in coupled position. Fig. 5 is a detail view of thehose-coupling support. Fig. 6 is a detail view illustrating thehosecoupling. Fig. 7 is a sectional viewillustrating the pressure-pipeand the valve-operatin g air-pipe with their connections and valves.Fig. 8 is a detail view of the valve and piston by which the passage ofair to the uncouplingcylinder is controlled. Fig. 9 is a detail sectionon about line 9 9, Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is a detail cross-section on aboutline 10 10 of Fig. 7, and Fig. 11 is a detail view of the releasingpin.

In carrying out my invention I provide for uncoupling the cars at anypoint in the train by means of fluid-pressure under the control of theengineer, varying pressure being employed to effect the uncoupling atdifferent points, such varying pressure being supplied means of thepressure devices now commonly employed on locomotives and supplied witha suitable pressure-gage for indicating the pressure; but as suchpressure supplying and indicating devices are not in themselves of myinvention it does not seem necessary to illustrate them in detailherein.

In carrying out my invention I provide in connection with thecar-coupling devices an air-cylinder A, having its piston connected withthe coupling or locking pin A of the coupling, so that when air isadmitted under pressure to the cylinder A it will release the coupling.This may be effected in various ways other than that shown, and I do notdesire to be limited to any particular mode of applying the air-pressureto the coupling devices to uncouple the same.

The air is led from the pressure-pipe B to the cylinder A through a pipeA which is controlled by a valve 0, and as the valve 0 and pipes A inconnection with each couplin'g are alike the description of one willanswer for all.

Before proceeding it might be well to state that in connection with thecars I use for the uncoupling purposes a system of pipes comprising twopipes and their connections, such pipes D and B being for convenience ofreference designated, respectively,as the valveoperating air-pipe andthe press ure-pipe, the latter pipe B carrying the pressure by which theuncoupling is elfected and the pipe D the pressure for operating thevalves controlling the passage of the pressure from the pipe B to anyparticular coupling which it may be desired to release. The pipes D andB are coupled to the corresponding pipes of the meeting cars in anysuitable way, preferably by means of the devices presently de scribed.

The valve 0, which controls the passage of air from the pipe B to thecylinder A, operates transversely the pipe B and is normally unseated bythe spring C and is connected with the piston 0 which operates in acylinder B, in communication through a port B with the pipe D, such portD being controlled by the valve E, which valve E is seated by a spring Eand is arranged to be unseated by a proper pressure in the pipe D. Tothis end the valve E has a flange or surface E which receives thepressure of the fluid in the pipe D, and such valve E operates in acylindrical casing E whose lower end is open and encircles the port B Bythis construction the valve E forms a closure in the pipe D, beyondwhich the pressure in such pipe cannot pass when the valve is closed, sothat the opening of the valve E serves two purposes in that it firstpermits the passage of the air to close its corresponding valve 0 byaction on its piston C and also permits the passage of the pressure inthe pipe D to the succeeding valve or valvesE. Thus in operation (seeFig. 7) we will suppose the pressure as coming from the left toward theright through the pipe D and it is desired to uncouple by pressureapplied through the hose A at the right. In such case the pressuresupplied through pipe D is sufficient to unseat the valve E at the left,but not sufficient to unseat both the valve at the left and that at theright. The result is that the valve E at the left will be opened andpressure will pass through the port 13 of such valve and will act onthecorresponding piston C and the valve 0 at the left will be closed,shutting off communication between the valve-operating air-pipe l3 andthe hose A at the left; but such pressure in the pipe D is so regulatedthat while it will open the valve E at the left it will not open bothsuch valve E at the left and that at the right, the result being thatpressure will pass from pipe D to close the valve 0 at the left; but thevalve C at the right will be held open, as shown in Fig. 7, so pressuremay pass from the pipe B through the hose A at the right to uncouple thecoupling in connection with said hose'at the right.

I have only thought it necessary to describe the operation in connectionwith two valves E and the parts operating in connection therewith, as itis manifest the operation with a larger number of valves arranged insuccession will be the same, pressure being supplied to the pipe D tothe necessary extent to open all the valves E in advance of that whichoperates in connection with the pipe A for the passage of pressure torelease the particular coupling it is desired to operate. In thisconnection I find it well to set all the valves E to release by the samepressure, as in practice if it takes ten pounds to release each valve itwill in connection with a series require ten pounds to open the firstvalve, and then in addition an excess to twenty to open both the firstand second and hold them open, and a greater pressure for the firstthree valves E, and so on to the end of the series.

When pressure has been properly applied through the pipe D to effect theclosure of all the valves 0 in advance of the pipe A which leads to thecoupling to be operated, pressure is admitted to the pipe 13, coming inthe present instance from the left, as before, and the pressure willpass through the pipe B to the proper pipe A and thence to thecorresponding cylinder A to release the coupling.

After the uncoupling is effected the pressure in the pipe D may be freedby means of the release valve F, which is closed by a spring F, and maybe opened by pressure from the pipe B, acting on a piston F in acylinder F in communication with the pipe B, a greater pressure beingrequired in the pipe 13 for opening the release-valve F than isordinarily required for effecting the uncoupling operation beforedescribed.

The coupling between the cars includes the draw-bar G and thespring-pressed bumper H, the draw-bar G being supplied with an ordinaryJanney type coupling-jaw G and a vertically-moving pin G for lockingsaid jaw G in coupled position. This pin G when lifted vertically,releases the jaw G, and I provide for lifting the pin both byair-pressure through the pipe A as before described, and bymechanically-operating devices which include a lever I, engaging at Iwith the pin G at one end, pivoted at I bet-ween its ends on thedraw-bar and having its front end at 1 arranged for engagement by thehead J of a pin J which may be moved vertically by the backward movementof the spring-bumper H in the manner presently described. This pin J hasa dual function. In the first place as it is depressed it head Jstrikesupon the end I of the lever I, depressing such end I and raising theother end, which, being connected with the pin G lifts such pin G andreleases the jaw G, so the latter may open. After the pin J 2 hasoperated to release the pin G it is given a partial-revolution to causeits crank J to throw the jaw G open. This partial revolution is effectedby a cam-surface J on the pin J engaging with an abutment J on thedraw-bar after the pin J has operated to release the pin G so the jaw Gmay open. Hence in operation as the pin J 2 is depressed it first liftsthe pin G to release the jaw G and is then given a partial revolution bythe engagement of its cam-surface J with the abutment J to cause itscrank-arm J to bear against the rear arm of the jaw G to throw such jawG open in position to receive thejaw on the meeting draw-head, whichlatter jaw has been similarly opened, as will be readily understood. Tooperate the pin J I make its head J on its upper side rounded orinclined downward toward its outer edge and supply on the spring bufferor bumper H a projection H, which as the bumper H moves rearwardlyengages with the cam-like surface at the top of the pin G and depressessuch pin to secure the operation of the parts actuated by the pin J asbefore described.

At their ends the pipes B and D have hosesections 1) and d, which aresupplied at their free ends with the coupling-sections b and d, whichmate with corresponding sections on the meeting draw-head and areautomatically adjusted into coupled connection as the draw-heads meet.

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ing lowered by the rearward movement of the bumper and raised as thebumper moves forward. This is efiected by means of the link L, pivotedat one end to the swinging arm K and at its other to the bumper H, asbefore indicated.

In the position of the parts shown in Fig. 2 the yokes K rest inrecesses Min the lower edge of the bumper H, and the coupling-sectionsprotrude through notches M in the front edge of said bumper in positionfor engagement by the coupling-sections on the meeting draw-head. Theupper walls of the notches M are beveled or inclined at M forming asurface which is impinged by the projecting surface at M of thecoupling-section on the approaching draw-head and forces such sectiondownward. It should be understood that the coupling-sections b and (Zare of the ordinary Vestinghouse type and are not claimed by me to be ofmy invention.

From the foregoing it will be seen the coupling-sections are held up tothe bumper until the coupling is effected, when the rearward movement ofthe bumper will throw the supporting-arms K down and the latter willhold the hose-sections in the position ordinarily assumed by the coupledhose-sections of the brake-pipes.

here desired, arms K may be employed to support the hose-pipe sectionsof the brakepipes, and it is obvious that the fluid-pressure pipes B andD may be duplicated at both sides of the car to facilitate the couplingof cars which may be turned end to end.

It should be understood that the valves 0 have a slight play in thedirection of length of the pipe B, so that when such valves are open orotf their seats pressure in either direction will force them overagainst the opposite side from the direction of pressure and so closethe passage through the pipe B until such particular valve 0 is closed.

It will be understood that in practice I prefer to use in connectionwith my pipes B and D a signal-whistle in the locomotive in connectionwith either or both of such pipes to indicate a break in the pipes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patcut, is-

1. An apparatus for use in operating coupling devices comprising meanswhereby fluidpressure maybe utilized to uncouple the cars and meanswhereby fluid-pressure may be utilized to control the passage offluid-pressure to the uncoupling devices substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the coupling devices, the air-pipe, fluid-operateddevices connected with such pipe for releasing the coupling,

valves controlling the connection of such devices with the air-pipe, apressure-pipe, and check-valves therein by which to control the passageof the air to' the several valves for controlling the connection withthe air-pipe substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the coupling devices, fluid-operated devices bywhich to release the coupling, an air-pipe for supplying pressure tosaid devices, valves controlling the passage of pressure to said devicesand a separate airpipe provided with check-valve by which to control thepassage of pressure to operate saidcontrolling-valve substantially asset forth.

4. The combination of the devices for coupling the cars, fluid-operateddevices by which to release said coupling devices, a pressurepipe incommunication with said fluid-open ated devices, valves controlling saidconnection, and a separate air-pipe for operating said valvesubstantially as set forth.

5. In an apparatus substantially as described the combination of thedevices for coupling the cars, fluid-operated devices for releasing thecoupling, an airpipe, a pipe connecting said air-pipe with thefluid-operated devices, a valve controlling said connect ing-pipe, apiston connected with said valve, a separate air-pipe, a cylinder incommunication with said separate air-pipe and receiving the pistonaforesaid, and a valve controlling the communication between saidcylinder and its communicating air-pipe substantially as set forth.

6. In an apparatus substantially as described the combination with thecar-coupling devices of fluid-operated devices for releasing saidcoupling devices, a pipe for supplying pressure to said releasingdevices, valves controlling said supply, a separate airpipe providedwith check-valve and with connections whereby to operate the valvescontrolling the pressure-supply to the couplingreleasing devices, arelease-valve for such air-pipe and means whereby such releasevalve maybe operated by pressure in the other air-pipe substantially as setforth.

7. An apparatus for releasing car-coupling devices comprising anair-pipe provided at intervals with valves controlling the supply ofpressure to the releasing devices, a separate air-pipe, and deviceswhereby pressure in such separate air-pipe may operate the valvescontrolling supply of pressure to the releasing devices substantially asset forth.

8. In an apparatus substantially as described the combination of thecar-coupling devices, an air-pipe for supplying pressure to saiddevices, a branch pipe for conducting such pressure and a valve forcontrolling such branch pipe, such valve when open being arranged toclose the passage of pressure through the air-pipe substantially as setforth.

9. In an apparatus substantially as described the combination of thecar-coupling devices, fluid-operated devices for releasing the coupling,an air-pipe for supplying pressure to such devices, valves controllingsuch supply, fluid-operated devices for operating said valves and anair-pipe having valves controlling the passage of pressure to thedevices which operate the said supply-controlling valves substantiallyas set forth.

10. In an apparatus substantially as described the combination with apressure-pipe and valves controlling supply therefrom ofpressure-operated devices for operating such valves, a pipe forsupplying pressure to such devices and check-valves controlling suchsupply of pressure substantially as set forth.

11. The combination of a pressure-pipe, a coupling-hose at the endthereof, a springbumper, an arm pivoted at one end and arranged at itsother end to support the coupling-hose, and connections between said armand the spring-bumper whereby the bumper may operate the armsubstantially as set forth.

12. In an apparatus substantially as described, the combination withdevices for coupling the cars of means whereby air-pressure may beutilized to release the coupling devices and. means whereby air-pressuremay be utilized to control the passage of air to the uncoupling devicessubstantially as set forth.

13. The combination of the coupling devices, a movable pin, intermediatedevices whereby the movements of such pin release the coupling devicesand the yielding bumper provided with means by which'to operate saidmovable pin as the bumper is moved substantially as set forth.

14. The combination of the coupling-pin, the movable pin, a pivotedlever connected with the coupling-pin and arranged for operation by themovable pin and the movable bumper provided with means by which tooperate the movable pin substantially as set forth.

15. The combination of the coupling-pin, the movable pin, the pivotedlever connected with the coupling-pin and arranged for operation by themovable pin, such movable pin having an inclined or cam-like head, andthe movable bumper having a portion arranged to engage said head of themovable pin substantially as set forth.

16. The combination of the coupling devices including the pivoted jawand a pin for securing the same, a longitudinally and rotarily movablepin having a crank projection by which to throw the jaw open as the pinis moved rotarily, means whereby the longitudinal movement of said pinmay release the coupling-pin and the spring-bumper arranged to operatethe movable pin substantially as V set forth.

17. The combination of the. coupling devices including the pivoted jaw,and the movable pin having a cam-surface and a crank projection arrangedto open the jaw as the pin is turned, and an abutment arranged forengagement by the cam-surface whereby to effect the turning of the pinsubstantially as set forth. 18. The combination with the yieldingbumper, provided in its under side with a seat for the coupling,sections of the hose-sections, the pivoted arm having at its outer endportions to receiy e the hose-section and movable toward and from theseats in the bumper and connections between said bumper and the swingingarm whereby the movements of the V bumper will control the position ofthe arm substantially as set forth.

19. The combination of the yielding bumper, having a seat for thehose-coupling section and adjacent thereto a cam-like surface to engageand operate the hose-coupling section on an approaching bumper and meansfor supporting the hose-coupling section substantially as set forth.

20. The combination substantially as described, of the yielding bumperprovided in its lower edge with a recess to receive the yoke on theswinging arm and having a notch leading from such recess for thehose-coupling section, the swinging arm having at its movable end theyoke to receive the hosesection, the link connecting such arm with thebumper, the hose-section, and the hosecoupling section substantially asset forth.

21. An apparatus substantially as described comprising the couplingdevices, meanswhereby fluid-pressu re operates such devices, a conduitfor such fluid, valves controlling the passage thereof to thecoupling-operating means, fluid-operated valve-operating devices and aconduit for the fluid which operates upon the valve-operating devicessubstantially as set forth.

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22. In an apparatus substantially as de- SETH BEDFORD.

Witnesses:

SOLON C. KEMON, PERRY B. TURPIN.

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